Tie plate and spring clip



June 25, 1940. WARR 2,205,584

TIE PLATE AND SPRING CLIP Filed Aug. 4, 1958 i j? 9177307 I6 A .-7

im Imfe'or x6/Mae@ \w2 @Xg JMM Patented June 2s, 1940 TIE lPLTE ANDV vSPRING CLIP Harold G. Warr, Park Ridge, Ill., assigner to Poor & Company, Chicago, Ill., 'a corporation of Delaware Application Augusta, 1938seria1No. 222.986

,'12 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved.

` tie plate and rail clip assembly for maintaining a railroad railin its proper position. l

A principal object of the invention is to pro- =5 vide an improved combination structure of the above character in which thetie' plate and clip elements are so formed as to simplify the manufacture and facilitate quick and convenient assembly of the parts and whereby the clip element l0 is maintained under tension when it is in its applied position. l v' According to the present invention the tie plate is formed with one or more openings through the plate, preferably one at either side of the rail supporting seat, for receiving spring clip members. rA Wall of each opening is provided with a lug which projects into the said opening and thereby imparts a substantially U-shaped .coniiguration thereto. Each -spring clip comprises a metal strip bent intermediate its ends to form a downwardly bowed `portion adapted to be inserted in the relatively wide portion of the U-shaped vopening in the plate. The clip is then moved laterally in the opening to a positionrjbeneath the said lug. In `order to vposition the clip beneath the said lug it is necessary fto force the U-shaped portion of the clip downwardly -ifn a manner Ato tension the clip'. Inasmuch ias 'the clip is free of relatively sharp bendsl theytension Vimparted thereto is distributed throughout its length. The clip is maintainedin its `applied position and the `tie plate is secured to an underlying cross-tie by means 'of an ordinary track spike adapted to be driven through the opening in the plate and into the said cross-tie.

It is a speciiic object of this inventionv to provide ka tie plate and rail clip assembly in which the constructions and operation of the assembly as a whole and thepseveral parts thereof include 40 the novel arrangements and constructions such y as brieiiy described hereinabove and `as ydisclosed more in ldetail in the specication which follows.

In the drawing: y

Fig. 1 is V'a plan viewof a tie plate and clip assembly constructed in accordance with invention.

Fig. 2 is a -fragmentary sectional view taken on line A2--2 of Fig. f1, yand showing the parts 'of the assembly on a larger scale 'than TFig. 1.'

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional; view taken-'on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the rail clip member is lockedin its .ap-

plate.

(c1. zas- 304) Fig. dis a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the .punch and vdie used to form the clip receiving opening in the tie plate, and -.5

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the .punch member showing its general 'U-shaped configuration and corresponding in ,shape lto the opening as lit appears from the top surface of the tie ,plate' Referring iirst vto the embodiment shown in Figs. .1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, I0 designates the base portion Aof a, railroad rail, Il an ordinary wooden cross-tie, I2 a tie plate interposed between the cross-tie and theV base portion of "5 the rail, and |3I3a designates the rail retaining clip members for retaining the rail in its proper position on the'plate. *The tie plate l2, as vherein illustrated, is formed with vspaced ribs IM-M'which extend across the .20

rvplate and function as lateral abutments for the 'base portion of the rail and .also ldefine rail seat .portion l5 of theplate. Clip receiving openings 1|6--I6a are formed in the .plate at opposite sides -:of the rail seat and comprise in each case a 25 relatively wide portion l1 and a pair `of narrower .slots 18-18 which extend laterally from one .side thereof -and define the opposite sides of a flug I9. The lower face of the lug is preferably rounded, asshown at 20, so as to correspond with f30 `a curvature in -the clip .member and the entire lug is pressed upwardly relative to the bottom '.ofthe tie plate to provide a space between the .lug and the lower edge of the opening. Accordingly, when Vthe clip vopening is viewed from the =35 Stop of the plate, it has ,fa substantially U-shaped configuration, 'but when viewed from the 'bottom' of the plate, 'the opening presentsa substantial- Vly rectangular form provided on one of its side walls with a lug projecting into'the opening. f4() The clip members I3-l3a comprise, in each case, a strip of .steel of uniform widthand thickness bent intermediate its ends Vto provide a downwardly bowed portion 2| and oppositely extending spring arms 22 and. 23. When'tl'ie said 45 Iclip 'is in fits applied position, the downwardly bowed vintermediate portion `2l iits beneath the rounded bottom surface of the -lug 19, the resilient arm `22 bears upon the top surface of the tie vplate andthe arm 23 Aoverlies the base Vflange 50 of'zthe rail. In present embodiment, the said arm 23 of the clip bears resiliently on the rib vI'4 of the plate and provides suitable clearance between the lower surface of the clipland kthe top surface of the rail basefflange, whereby vthe 55 vide a clip arm 23 of greater spring pressure, the clip arm is made shorter than shown herein and the clip opening is formedinftheifplate"atf a location nearer the edge of the rail; baseso.

as to accommodate thefsaidjarm offshorter'nV length. If a clip arm 23 of greater ilexibil'ityl and less pressure is desired, the said arm may be formed somewhat longer thanshownin1the"draw ing and the clip opening is formed .thevplatef to accommodate the longer arm.

When applying the improved. clip to its operative position, the downwardly bowed portion 2| lis inserted 'in the wide portion I'I of the clip opening, as illustrated in the dotted line position of the clip I3a. The said clip is then moved laterally from `the dotted line position to force the downwardly bowedportion 2l -beneath'the lugr I9. The said bowed portion 2| is so formed relative to the bearing surfaces of the arms that it is necessary to hex the clip downwardly and thereby tension it before the bowed portion-will clear the lower edge of the lug I9. This result may be readily accomplished in several'ways. For example, a suitable pinch bar may be inserted between the clip-and a wall of -theuclp opening whereby pressure-can be applied to force the clip laterally lbeneath the lug I9. Likewise the tapered lower endcof the .track spike 25 may be wedged between'the. clip and onev Wall of "the clip opening so that the'driving of the spiketo its applied positionin the cross-tie, will force the clip downwardlyand laterally beneath the said lug. It is also practicable to apply the clip by striking the top surface ofthe clip aarms with a suitable implement at anangle to depressv the arms relative to the plate and at `the same time force the clip laterally beneath the saidv lug I9. 'Ihe track spike ,25 lockstheclip in its applied position and also holdsthe plate' firmly on the tie. Preferably, the spike is positioned in the corner portion of the `clip opening so that the spike will have a wide surface contact with adjacent walls of the spike openingdor'resi'sting horizontal movements of 4the plate. In order to insure accurate positioning of the spike, one wall of the clip opening'its recessed, as indicated at 26, to receive the` shank portion of the spike.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of thev drawing, the clip receiving opening Ib is of the same shape and size as the opening IG shown in the previous embodiment, but is so positioned-that the :inner edge of the U-shaped opening lcoincidesiyvith the inner face of therail abutment shoulder I4b on the tieplate. vThe clip member I3b of.. the modified embodilment is` formed with a'substantiall'y vertically extending; portion andwan arm 23h which is somewhat shorter .than ithegarml 23 of the: previous embodiment andnisarrangedcto exertr'e'e silient pressure on the topfsurfacefof the'jrail base. The downwardly bowed intermediate p01"- tion 2lb is tensioned and moved. to a position beneath' the lug 19h in the'gsame manner as indicated in the previouslembodiment, and the arm designated 22bb'ea1`fs uponfthetop fsurfaceo'f the ing the shank ofthe spike.

tie plate. The said clip I3b is applied to its operative position in the same manner as indicated in the previous embodiment and is locked in its applied position by means of a rail spike 25.

The U-shaped openings If--Iib` and the associated lugs I9-I9b of the tie plates are formed by a combined punching and pressing operation. These. ,operations are preferably,4 performed while the metaluof theplatel is relatively hot. However,"the`metal of the plate being of relatiyely soft steel, will permit the punching and pressing operations to be satisfactorily performed ,.fafter the'plate has cooled.

ln forming the said openings in a tie plate, the plateis'jsupported ,in an inverted` position on a diememb'er 2],.and the openings are punched through theplate from the bottom thereof. The hole :'formirigiend of the punch 28, preferably conforms to the contour of the clip receiving opening, that is to say, one side of the punch .'is recessed,-as indicated at 29,rto provide a'spacc for-the. unpunched rlug portion IlofA the plate. The opposite face isformed with ajwide` at `ridge 30.1. tofform` theoffset recess 26'for receiv- If desired the lsaid recess 29 may extendentirely through the punch. .In-that-eventfthe' lug I9, in its initial form, will yextend-entirely `across the clip opening; the end ofwfthe lug, beingv subsequently. cutaway by` a Vshearingor punching operation. .The upper end of the recess 29 is curved, as indicated at .3L This. surface. ofthe:- :punch is adapted' t0 engage the bottomfffaceffof .the-lug t9` `with vsufficient ypressurelto offset the lug relative to the bottom :face of the plateA and `to impart the desired curvaturefto the lug; Inoifsetting the lug and in .displacing the metal thereof torform thelug ,withya.. curvedrsurface, the lug isgpress'edinto a recess or `depression 32 formed in the upper face of,Y the die member. 21. f? l Il'CIElIllI` .2 l 1 l ,^,1. A Vtieplate andrailclip assembly 'comprising a tieiplate: having a rail supporting seat, an .openingfthrough the plate at one side of the scat yand `formed with a lugv which projects into the said` opening from. one wall of the opening and in spaced relation to the adjoining'walls thereof and having its bottom surface located between the. top. and bottom planes .o'f the tie plate; a resilientclip having an end `portionlfor overlying .the-rail seat," an end portion forexerting resilient pressure-,on the; tie plate, and la downwardly bowed-intermediate'portion adapted to be in- `sertedlin saidv opening adjacent the endlh of `said lug and moved laterally therein to aA position embracing'thebottom and opposite sides of said luga'. Il: I

*4 2. Atie plate and rail clipassembly comprising `a tie/plate fhavingsa' rail supporting seat, an opening. .throughf the plate at one side of the seat ,and formed with a rlug which projects into the said opening Afrom' one wall of -the opening and in spaced relation to the adjoining walls thereof and having its bottom surfacelocated4 between the ft'op land bottom planes'hfjthe tie plate; a resilient `clip having an end portionv overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure 4Vionv the *tie plate, and ar downwardly bowedi intennediate portion-,adapted to be i`n` serted-in'; said opening adjacent the end of said lugllandA movedflaterally therein fto ar position embracing` the'bottom yand opposite sides of said lug, thefl'onrsitionl of the' downwardlybo'wed por` tinlr'elative to 'the'ends 'of the clip being *normally such that it is necessary to tensionrthe clip to force the said bowed portion beneath the said lug. y

3. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug which projects into the said opening from one wall of the opening and in spaced relation to the adjoining walls thereof and having its bottom surface located between the top and bottom planes of the tie plate; a resilient clip having an end portion for overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the tie plate, and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted to be inserted in said opening adjacent the end of said lug and moved laterally therein to a position embracing the bottom and opposite sides of said lug; and means for looking the clip in its applied position.

4. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an

opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug pressed upwardly relative to the top of the plate and which projects lengthwise of the rail and extends into the said opening from one wall thereof with the bottom of the lug located intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the plate; and a resilient clip having an end portion for overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the tie plate, and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted to be inserted in said opening adjacent the end of said lug and moved laterally therein to a position beneath said lug.

5. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug projecting into the said opening from one wall thereof and in spaced relation to the adjoining walls and offset relative to the bottom face of the plate to position the bottom face of the lug between the top and bottom surfaces of the plate; and a resilient clip having an end portion for overlying the rail seat; an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the tie plate and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted to be inserted in said opening and moved laterally therein to a position beneath said lug, the position of the downwardly bowed portion relative to the ends of the clip being normally such that it is necessary to tension the clip to forc'e said bowed portion beneath the said lug.

6. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug projecting lengthwise of the rail and extending into said opening from one wall thereof with the lower face of the lug positioned intermediate the top and bottom faces of the plate; a resilient clip comprising a metal strip bent intermediate its ends to provide an arm for overlying a portion of the rail seat, an arm for bearing on the top of the tie plate, and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted to be inserted in said opening adjacent the end of the lug and moved laterally to a position beneath said lug; and means for holding the clip in its applied position comprising a track spike adapted to be driven through said opening and into an underlying cross-tie.

7. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug projecting into the said opening fromone side thereof and having a curved lower face spaced upwardly from the bottom surface of the plate and below the top surface thereof; and a resilient clip having an end portion overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the tie plate, and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted` to be inserted in said opening adjacent the end of the lug and moved laterally therein to engage the rounded lower surface of said lug.

8. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug whichprojects into said opening from one wall thereof and in spaced relation to the adjoining walls and having vits bottom surface located between the top and bottom planes of the tie plate; a resilient clip comprising a metal strip bent intermediate its ends to provide upwardly diverging arms adapted to bear on the tie plate and an open loop portion adapted to be inserted in said opening and flexed to a position beneath said lug with the said diverging arms positioned in the spaces at opposite sides of said lug and means comprising a rail spike adapted to be driven through said opening and into an underlying cross tie for maintaining the clip in its applied position and for clamping the plate to the cross tie; the said opening in the tie plate having a recess in one wall for receiving a side face of the rail spike.

9. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, and having an opening through the plate at one side of the seat, which opening is substantially U-shaped and defines the sides and end faces of a lug spaced upwardly from the bottom planes of the tie plate extending horizontally between the legs of the said U-shaped opening; and a resilient clip bent intermediate its ends to provide a downwardly bowed portion adapted to be inserted in the wide portion of said opening adjacent the end face of the lug and moved laterally therein to position the upwardly diverging legs of the bowed portion on opposite sides 'of the lug of said plate, the said downwardly bowed portion of the clip being formed to stand above the lower face of the lug whenv the clip is in its initial position in the said wide portion of said U-shaped opening, whereby it is necessary to flex the clip downwardly relative to the lug preliminary to said lateral movement of the clip to its applied position.

10. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat and having a clip receiving opening formed in the plate at one side of the seat, which opening is substantially U-shaped, comprising a relatively wide portion and spaced laterally extending slots which define an intervening laterally extending lug which is offset upwardly relative to the bottom of the plate; a resilient clip bent intermediate its ends to provide a downwardly bowed portion adapted to be inserted in the wide portion of said opening and moved laterally therein to position the said downwardly bowed portion beneath the said lug, the said downwardly bowed portion of the clip being formed to stand above the lower face of the lug whenthe clip is in its initial position in the said wide portion of said U-shaped opening, whereby it is necessary to flex the clip downwardly relative to the lug preliminary to said lateral movement of the clip to Cil its applied position, and means for locking the clip in its applied position.

11. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, clip receiving openings formed in the plate at opposite sides of the Seat, each opening having a lug projecting laterally from one side of the opening and in spaced relation to the adjoining sides thereof, the latter of which is oset upwardly from the bottom face of the plate to position the lower face of the lug between the top and bottom siufaces of the plate; a resilient clip having an end portion overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the tie plate and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion to be inserted in said openingr adjacent the end of the lug and moved laterally therein to engage the lower face of the lug; and means at the end of the lug for locking the clip in its applied position.

l2. A tie plate and rail clip assembly comprising a tie plate having a rail supporting seat, an opening through the plate at one side of the seat and formed with a lug projecting into said opening from one side thereof in spaced relation to the adjoining sides of the opening and having its bottom surface located between the top and bottom planes of the tie plate; a resilient clip having an end portion overlying the rail seat, an end portion for exerting resilient pressure on the plate, and a downwardly bowed intermediate portion adapted to be inserted in said opening adjacent the end of the lug and moved laterally therein to engage the lower surface of said lug and into the spaces at opposite sides thereof; and means removably positioned in the opening at the end of the lug for locking the clip in its applied position.

HAROLD G. WARR. 

